Menomonee Falls hiring superintendent from West Bend

Patricia Herdrich, superintendent of the West Bend School District for the past six years, will take over as the top official of the Menomonee Falls School District on July 1.

Menomonee Falls School Board President Kathy Shurilla confirmed Wednesday that Herdrich was the board's top choice to replace outgoing Superintendent Keith Marty in the 2011-'12 school year.

"We just felt Pat was the best match to what the community was looking for," she said. "We had three outstanding final candidates, there's no question. But Pat had extensive knowledge of the Wisconsin education system. She's been a superintendent and she's also been in the Menomonee Falls School District before."

Herdrich has served as assistant principal of North Middle School and principal of Ben Franklin Elementary School, Shurilla said. Before being named superintendent in West Bend, Herdrich also was an assistant superintendent in the Elmbrook School District.

She was picked over fellow finalists Conrad Farner, superintendent of the Greenfield School District, and Charles Johns, a high school principal in Rolling Meadows, Ill.

The Menomonee Falls board will vote Monday on Herdrich's contract. The district has said it will release a copy of the contract after Herdrich signs it and before that vote. The Journal Sentinel will provide the updated information when it becomes available.

UPDATE: The two-year contract to be voted on by the school board would pay Herdrich $158,000 for her first year of service as well as a $400 monthly car allowance.

She will receive family health insurance, for which she will pay 8% of premium costs, and 15 days of sick leave a year. Herdrich also will get 20 vacation days over a 260-day work year.

Herdrich will be required to live in the Menomonee Falls district. The district will pay $3,000 toward her moving expenses.

She will be eligible for retirement benefits after seven years of service. Those benefits include five years of health insurance, a $20,000 stipend paid over four years and five years of life insurance.